CogSci, Knitting, and Other Shenanigans

I kitchenered up the toe of Jaywalker #2! I did it! I did it! I finished my first pair of socks. All I need to do now is sew in the loose ends, and I can wear them! … Strangely, I think my right foot is one or two rows longer than my left foot. I knew it! I’ll also admit that Jaywalker #2 is simply more attractive than Jaywalker #1, but if you’re not a knitter, you’ll never know. Then again, why are you reading this blog if you’re not a knitter? You must love me a lot! 😉 Anyway, photos coming very soon!

Daylight, my knits, my camera, and myself have finally aligned, and today, I can bring you photos! Lots and lots of photos! This is the summary of what I’ve been working on for a while. I’ve been shopping online a lot, and as a result have mounds of variegated, teal sock yarn (two balls of which have turned into Jaywalkers), two books, and 5 skeins of Blue Sky Dyed Cotton. I can’t seem to write a coherent entry right now, so I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

First, Jaywalker #1, which has been finished since the beginning of April.

Second, Jaywalker #2, which has been on the needles for a week or two. The hardest thing about knitting this one is trying to make it match Jaywalker #1.

To conclude what’s on the needles right now, it seems I’ve almost completed my first pair of socks! Soon, I’ll just need to block them, because they’re wrinkly little suckers.

Next on the needles, Blue Sky Dyed Cotton:

What will it be? This adorable eyelet cardigan, which came in a sale kit from kpixie. Alas, it’s not on sale anymore, but I couldn’t resist!

And to round everything out, here’s a photo from the archives. This was taken when I first began Clapotis. I think I was sitting in the upstairs lobby of Palazzo Maffei Marescotti when I took this.

Why is the second sock the more difficult of the two? Is it because I’m not toting the pattern around with me like another appendage? Is it because I can’t keep decrease rows and pattern rows straight? What is it? Jaywalker #1 never gave me this much trouble!

Jaywalker #1 is done, thanks to my mother’s darning needle. Now, I have turned to Jaywalker #2, and by that I mean that I believe I’ve been trying to turn the heel of Jaywalker #2 for about 12 hours. I’ve lost a stitch. I’ve broken the pattern. I’ve counted multiple times. I’m sure I have everything. All I really want to do is turn the heel. then I can start on the rest of the sock. Then my poor little lonely Jaywalker #1 can have its sole mate. It’s noticeably darker sole mate. That’s all right. It’ll just mean that the socks are handknit. For sure.

I really must take pictures.

Update: The heel has been turned. It’s a 3 AM miracle. It just needs to stay that way.

So, it’s been far too long since I posted. I really should try to make a habit out of blogging about my knitting, since it does seem to consume my life. Even during final exams. I had to hide my knitting in my wardrobe so it wouldn’t drive me to distraction. Now that, my friends, is something sad … at least in the interests of graduating from college.

And what, may you ask, was I knitting that was so gosh-darn distracting? I will tell you what: my very first sock! I bit the bullet and ordered 10 balls of variegated, teal sock yarn off eBay, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. I consulted Chelle to ask her opinion on the matter, and this led me to Jaywalker, which is a simple pattern for a beginner (namely, me!). Even if they are on US 1’s! I think I nearly passed out at the thought of working on needles that small, but I have survived to blog this, so I think I’ll be all right. Anyway, as of now, I have almost finished my first Jaywalker. I would actually be done by now, but I seem to have forgotten my darning needles in San Diego, and I am too cheap to buy another one while I am up in San Francisco. Thus, my Jaywalker I sits on two US 1’s, just itching to be kitchener’d.

So, Chelle was also right in thinking I’d get addicted to socks. I went out to my LYS today (the staff were super-helpful), and I bought 3 skeins of Louet Gems Pearl in Fern, wound them up into balls, purchased along with some DPNs and went along my merry way. There was a bit of a detour while I was winding, though, as my aunt found herself wanting a v-neck sweater. So, while I wound, she picked out a pattern. It looks promising, and the next time I’m in town (likely this summer), we’ll head out to the LYS again and pick out yarn for her sweater. Or maybe we’ll just scour the internet because I can’t drive. I really haven’t thought it out that far yet. 😀

Oh … that Louet will hopefully be turned into a pair of Hedera. This really is the time I wish school was over. And I’ll fix my pictures, and blog more, and perhaps all will be well with the world. Except gas prices. I don’t drive, and I still look at them and shudder.